New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘KLENI11124’

ABSTRACT

A new New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘KLENI11124’, particularly distinguished by its early flowering and red-purple to red flowers, is described.

Genus and species: Impatiens hawkeri.

Variety denomination: ‘KLENI11124’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New GuineaImpatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘KLENI11124’. The new variety originatedfrom a controlled hybridization between female New Guinea Impatiensplant ‘A 923’ (unpatented) and male New Guinea Impatiens plant ‘20060042’ (unpatented) from July to October 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in thesummer of 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany for more than 40generations. ‘KLENI11124’ has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in Switzerlandon Jul. 4, 2011 and in the European Union on Jul. 8, 2011. ‘KLENI11124’has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to thefiling of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany

-   -   1. Early flowering; and    -   2. Red-purple to red flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This New Guinea Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows the overall plant habit including blooms, buds,and foliage of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotograph is of a plant 3 months old, grown from rooted cuttings in a10.5 centimeter pot in a glass-covered greenhouse in the winter of2011-2012 in Stuttgart, Germany, under conditions which approximatethose generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLENI11124’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the winter of2011-2012 on 18 week old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in10.5 cm pots, and then grown in a glass-covered greenhouse. Colorreadings were taken under artificial light. Color references are to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Impatiens hawkeri.        -   Designation.—‘KLENI11124’.        -   Common name.—New Guinea Impatiens.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—New Guinea Impatiens plant, ‘A 923’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—New Guinea Impatiens plant, ‘2006 0042’            (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Compact; round.        -   Height.—15.0 cm.        -   Width.—25.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time from rooted cutting to flowering plant.—43 to 50 days            in the spring.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—20 days.-   Branches:    -   -   Average number.—11.        -   Length of branches.—10.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.5 cm.        -   Diameter of branches.—0.9 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 183A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Base of the plant: Opposite. Middle and upper            section of the plant: Whorled.        -   Length.—10.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Shallow serrate.        -   Color (both mature and immature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS            N189A. Lower surface: RHS N186C.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Leathery, glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Feather-like.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 186A. Lower surface: RHS            187C.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Petioles.—Length: 3.0 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: Upper            surface: RHS 182D. Lower surface: RHS 182A. Texture (both            surfaces): Smooth.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Color.—RHS 151A.        -   Length.—2.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid, completely closed.        -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 42A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous.        -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower arranged in clusters            arising from the leaf axil; flower positioned above the            foliage; flowers face upward and outward.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 4 plus 2 buds.        -   Flowering season.—April to Fall in Europe.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 to 21            days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Single.        -   Number of petals.—5.        -   Shape.—Round to oval.        -   Length.—6.8 cm.        -   Width.—7.0 cm.        -   Depth.—0.4 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Shape.—Cordate.        -   Apex.—Petals are medium incised in the middle.        -   Base.—Round to acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Size.—Upper petals: Length: 3.0 cm. Width: 4.5 cm. Lateral            petals: Length: 3.4 cm. Width: 4.1 cm. Lower petals: Length:            3.2 cm. Width: 3.6 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS N66D and RHS 41A. Lower surface:            RHS 33A. Eye Zone: RHS N66A.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Satiny, smooth.-   Spur:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong to acute.        -   Color.—RHS 47A.        -   Length.—4.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Proximal 0.1 cm, distal 0.2 cm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Whorled, overlapping.        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Acuminate, entire. Length: 4.5 cm.            Width: 2.8 cm.        -   Lower sepals.—Shape: Acuminate, entire. Length: 3.0 cm.            Width: 3.5 cm.        -   Surface texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 50A in a flamed pattern, RHS 68B            in the center. Lower surface: RHS 68B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number and arrangement: 5 stamens are fused,            forming a cap over the ovary. Anther color: RHS 159C. Anther            length: 0.4 cm. Pollen color: RHS 158D. Pollen amount:            Medium.        -   Pistils.—Style and stigma: Hair-like. Arrangement: 5 styles            and stigmas fused together; arranged in a circle on top of            ovary. Style color: RHS 59A. Style length: 0.7 cm. Stigma            color: RHS 59B. Ovary: Shape: Ovate. Length: 0.6 cm. Color:            RHS 137A.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Plants have medium tolerance to red    spider mite.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLENI11124’ differs from the female parent ‘A 923’ (unpatented) byhaving red-purple to red flowers, while ‘A 923’ has purple and whiteflowers.

‘KLENI11124’ differs from the male parent ‘2006 0042’ (unpatented), byhaving red-purple to red flowers, while ‘2006 0042’ has red flowers.

‘KLENI11124’ differs from the commercial New Guinea Impatiens variety‘KLEI04073’ (European Plant Breeder's Rights no. 18967) by havingflowers colored RHS N66D and RHS 41A, while ‘KLEI04073’ has flowerscolored RHS 57A.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plantnamed ‘KLENI11124’ as shown and described herein.